FLIGHT FROM SWANSTON

As a 7-year old living at number 37, Ajao Road, Surulere, Lagos, our apartment overlooked the back gardens of Pacelli School for the blind. I used to stand for hours on end looking at blind children playing and having fun despite their physical challenges. I suppose this initial contact was responsible for the sympathy I immediately had for Nurudeen Amusa when we met in January 1972.
My name ABODUNDE OLUBANJI came up in Swanston House and Class 1B. After the first term holiday, I was posted to Room 7 after serving the first term in Room 3. I slept on the upper bunk of Odubiyi who was in Form 4. One day, I got up as usual at 6.am on a week day and went straight to take a leak in the lavatory. I came back to look for my broom to perform my morning duty, which was to sweep the room. Odubiyi woke up and asked me why I hadn’t swept. I was trying to explain when he delivered a star loaded slap to my left cheek. He obviously woke up from the wrong side of the bed. I sobbed uncontrollably and still in my pyjamas I made up my mind not to let him get away with it. I headed for Mr. Arodudu's quarters which was in the other region directly opposite Mr. Oyetunji's (Vice Principal) house. After listening to my story, he comforted me and asked me to sit down. He left for the morning assembly and returned at about 10 am telling me to leave for my room and classes.

I trudged on and just before I reached the new Powell House (then under construction) I met Otuyalo who asked me stammering "did you report Odubiyi? He was tanned in the assembly hall". My heart sank. As far as I was concerned I had just committed an offence punishable with death in installments. I walked a few paces and met two senior boys who identified me and one said to the other "that is the boy". That confirmed my fears. I was in hot soup. By the time I got to the house grounds I knew I had to escape. I changed to my school uniform and headed off to the classroom. I had before this time been helping Amusa navigate the school compound out of sheer sympathy, but it was now payback time.

I coaxed him and told him of my plan and he of course agreed. We went and laid ambush for the Principal Chief J. B. O. Ojo. We caught him as he alighted from his Mercedes Benz car. I explained to him of my intention to help Amusa around and he was extremely happy and when I suggested that I would like to move to Field House to join Amusa so that "that task" could be made easier for me, he obliged immediately.

By closing time when Odubiyi arrived Swanston House, I had fled with my bag and baggage. My reputation had preceded me and I was treated with caution by my new house mates. I never returned to Swanston house until Odubiyi graduated. I had left behind my boys Idowu, Oluwatudimu and Odufuwa to acquaint with my new boys Akinyemi and Ologunde with my new Teur Pade James.


Culled From: Our story (1972 Set Anniversary book)
Submitted By: OLUBANJI ABODUNDE (SN 2407, Field House)